That's been the North Middlesex Regional way under baseball coach Tom Bartelson.

The Patriots once again got off to a sluggish start, but in the middle innings put on an offensive show en route to a convincing 17-4 Midland League B victory over Fitchburg Friday afternoon at Rolfe W. Schoppe Memorial Field.

"We figured it out that we're kind of a slow-starting team," said Bartelson, whose team scored 15 combined runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, and bashed out 13 total hits. "First couple of innings things don't go right for us, it never has and it won't. We've got to fight through it and they've been doing that. It seems like they have to see the pitcher a second time and then they get their swings through.

SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE / JOHN LOVE
Fitchburg players wait to congratulate teammate Joe George (6) as he trots home after hitting a three-run homer during Friday's loss to North Middlesex in Townsend.

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Fitchburg (0-10, 0-5) starter Joel Luna (5 K) kept the Pats off-balance early with his sidearm delivery, but in the fourth North Middlesex (5-8, 3-3) put up five runs for a comfortable 7-0 lead.

"We struggled against the first pitcher for a little bit and we tried to make things happen that weren't there," Bartelson said. "They settled down a little bit and started swinging through the ball and good things happened."

In that fourth inning, North Middlesex batted through the order, registering three hits while also taking advantage of three Red Raider errors.

"My pitcher started off pretty good, but no support," Fitchburg first-year coach John Costello said. "It's tough to win a game with no support.

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The big hits were supplied by Kevin Powell (RBI single) and No. 9 hitter John Boutwell, who lofted a booming two-run homer over the 355-foot sign in straightaway center field.

"It was a blast," Bartelson said. "He's been trying to do that all year."

Errors plagued Fitchburg again in the fifth when all five North Middlesex runs were unearned. The Red Raiders committed seven errors in the ballgame.

The Patriots led 1-0 in the second when Shawn Pinney's infield single to second base plated Anthony Sylvester, who legged out a leadoff triple to deep center to open the frame.

In the third inning, Powell walked and later scored on Andrew Jena's two-out RBI double to center for a 2-0 lead.

"The kids came to play. They needed to focus on hitting the ball," Bartelson said. "It was a hit parade, and it gives the kids a lot more confidence."

Powell started for the Patriots and was on his game from the get-go. The righty, who also showcases a tantalizing knuckleball, had the Red Raiders baffled in the first four innings.

"Powell is now 1-2," Bartelson said. "He's pitched three decent games. He got that knuckleball going. As long as he can control that knuckleball in the strike zone, he'll be fine. Nobody's been hitting it."

He carried a no-hitter into the fifth, but with two outs Johnny Rivera's single up the middle scored pinch runner Johnny Feliz to break up the no-hit bid and the shutout.

Fitchburg added three runs in the sixth.

The Red Raiders got back-to-back singles by Dimitri Brasili and Ben Tompkins before first baseman Joe George rocked a three-run homer to left-center.

George also flashed the leather on defense, making a great diving stab to rob Brandon Cole (two-run single in the fifth) of a sure base hit to open the third inning.

"Joey hit a good ball," Costello said. "Joey did play well. He plays well every day. He's a leader on this team; a senior leader."

Powell worked six strong innings, allowed four runs on five hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts.

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